Requirements
A student studying for the Ph.D. degree must first complete a master’s
degree (45 units) and must, in essence, fulfill the requirements for
the Stanford M.S. degree in Bioengineering. A minimum
of 135 units is required. Up to 45 units of master’s degree residency
units may be counted towards the degree. The maximum number of transfer
units is 45. Students may be admitted directly to the Ph.D. program if
they have completed a M.S. degree prior to matriculation at Stanford.
At least 90 units of work must be completed at Stanford.

Prior to being formally admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree,
the student must demonstrate knowledge of bioengineering fundamentals
and a potential for research by passing a qualifying
oral examination.

In addition to the course requirements of the M.S. degree, doctoral
candidates must complete a minimum of 15 additional units of approved
formal course work (excluding research, directed study, and seminars).

Students
must complete and defend a doctoral dissertation.

Choosing a
research lab
Students will be assigned an initial faculty advisor on the basis of
the research interests expressed in their application. Initial faculty
advisors will assist students in selecting courses and identifying research
opportunities. The Department will not require formal lab rotations,
but students will be encouraged to explore research activities in two
or three labs during their first academic year.